Upton people will have read with interest the various letters and articles about our proposals to develop Upton Marina, which are subject to an application for outline planning permission.

We have always listened to views expressed about our scheme, whether positive or negative, and we have tried to adapt our scheme to accommodate as many different viewpoints as we can.

For example, some concern has been expressed about the overall scale of the development, and that no significant reductions have been made since the scheme was first proposed.

In fact, since our proposals to develop Upton Marina were first made public in October, 2000 - on the front page of the Malvern Gazette - we have commissioned numerous revisions to the scheme.

The original proposals showed a total floor area of lodges and apartments of 11,936m. By the time of the planning application this had been reduced to 4,912m, and has been further reduced to only 4,766m on the current version of the scheme.

The 'built area' as a proportion of the overall site area has also reduced substantially from 24 per cent of the site area on the original proposals to only 11 per cent on the current plans.

A series of measures have also been incorporated both to minimise the impact of the built area, and to provide benefits for the wider community.

Increased car parking requirements have been dealt with by locating the mid-summer peak-time in a low lying part of the site, with a 'reinforced grass' finish that avoids any extension of the hard surfaced areas into the presently undeveloped parts of the site.

The waterside apartments have been restricted to the presently developed parts of the site, and the hillside lodges restricted to single storey buildings with shallow pitched roofs.

An extensive landscaping belt has been retained, with significant enhancements to a variety of habitats for flora and fauna, in accordance with the nature management plan.

A number of initiatives have been agreed that will enhance the existing links between the Marina and the town, improving accessibility, recreational opportunities, and economic as well as environmental vitality.

All of these measures will benefit local people at no cost to them or the local authority. Our scheme represents a huge 'free' investment into the local area at a time when there is serious under-funding of tourism promotion. This level of investment is unlikely to be available elsewhere.

We believe we have approached this application and the negotiation process with a sensitivity and openness to the needs of the local community. If we are allowed to develop Upton Marina as we propose, the finished product will be the best in the UK, and something of which we can all be proud.

Steve Arber, manager, Upton Marina.